Ann Austreng

This is one story we never dreamed about writing, but we are trusting in God that it will have a happy ending!  Beginning in October, Ann began experiencing nausea and vomiting on a fairly regular basis.  At a pre-op appointment in March for her regular colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, she mentioned her nausea, and they thought it was possibly gall bladder-related.  The colonoscopy and upper endoscopy did not show any reason for the nausea, so further tests were recommended.  And then COVID hit and everything was shut down.  


When things started opening up again, Ann was finally able to have a HIDA scan on June 15, which showed that her gall bladder was functioning at low normal, but also that there were possibly nodules on her liver.  On June 25, she had an ultrasound to look at her liver and other internal organs and met with a surgeon to possibly talk about taking out her gall bladder.  He said he didn't think taking her gall bladder would solve her nausea problems, but noted that the ultrasound showed tumors on her liver.  On June 29, she had an MRI of her abdomen to get better pictures.  And then on June 30, the horrible news:  stage IV cancer that had started in her pancreas and spread to her liver and right hip.  A PET scan on July 2 showed the cancer was also in her left femur.  A liver biopsy done on July 3 confirmed the official diagnosis:  Pancreatic Neuroendocrine cancer that has spread to her liver, right hip, and left femur.


Thank you for checking in, and THANK YOU for your prayers!  With God, Ann is a mighty warrior, and this cancer will soon know it has no chance.